Smuggler dies in police encounter in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara; one arrested
Jaipur, Aug 6 (IANS) A narcotics smuggler was killed in a police encounter in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district after he and his associates allegedly opened fire while attempting to evade a police checkpoint, officials said on Thursday.
One suspect was taken into custody, while another escaped under the cover of darkness. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force had set up a checkpoint in the Pur police station area after receiving specific intelligence about suspected narcotics smuggling.
According to Pur SHO Kanhaiyalal, a white luxury car allegedly broke through the police barricade on the Bhilwara-Jaipur highway at high speed late Wednesday night. Police teams immediately pursued the vehicle. During the chase, the occupants of the car allegedly opened fire on the police.
The police retaliated, resulting in an exchange of fire. Police said one of the alleged smugglers sustained bullet injuries during the encounter and died at the scene. He has been identified as Ganeshram alias Ganpat, a resident of Bhopalgarh in Jodhpur district.
According to police, the deceased suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and ribs and had multiple cases related to narcotics smuggling registered against him. One accused was apprehended during the operation, while another managed to flee by taking advantage of the darkness.
Police launched an extensive search operation overnight and established checkpoints across the district to trace the absconding suspect. However, no arrest had been made until Thursday morning.
Bhilwara Superintendent of Police Sagar Rana and other senior officers reached the encounter site soon after the incident. The vehicle used by the accused has been seized, and the body of the deceased has been shifted to the mortuary at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem examination.
A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) visited the scene to collect evidence, while a heavy police force was deployed in the area as part of the investigation. Police are continuing their investigation into the case and efforts to apprehend the absconding suspect.
–IANS
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